Thermochromic container for electromagnetic radiation protection

Abstract

A container is disclosed which may be used with fluids sensitive to light of one or more known wavelengths. The container may be formed of a thermochromic material or including a thermochromic coating. The properties of the thermochromic material or coating may be selected so as to be transparent to light of the wavelength to which the fluid is sensitive at a first temperature and to be opaque to that wavelength of light at a second temperature. While a technician is handling the container, the container is controlled to be at the first temperature. When the technician is finished, the container is controlled to move to the second temperature to protect the fluid within the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding a fluid, the container comprising:
 a wall comprising a thermochromic material transmitting a wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive when the container is at a first temperature, and the thermochromic material blocking the wavelength of light when the container is at a second temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the wall is formed with the thermochromic material. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic material is applied as a film or ink onto the wall of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the container changes from the second temperature to the first temperature upon being manipulated in a human hand. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is the temperature of a human hand. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the container changes from the second temperature to the first temperature upon being placed in a room which is at room temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is room temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the entire container is at the first temperature, transmitting the wavelength of light, or at the second temperature, blocking the wavelength of light. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the container is at the first temperature, transmitting the wavelength of light, while a second portion of the container, different than the first portion, is at the second temperature, blocking the wavelength of light. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is one of a centrifuge tube a micro-centrifuge tube and a pipette tip. 
     
     
         11 . A container for holding a fluid, the container comprising:
 a wall comprising a thermochromic material configured to allow visual inspection of the fluid within the container when the container is at a first temperature, and configured to block a wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive when the container is at a second temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the wavelength is in the visible light spectrum. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the wavelength is ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the first temperature is the temperature of a human hand. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the first temperature is room temperature. 
     
     
         16 . A container for holding a fluid, the container comprising:
 a wall comprising a thermochromic material configured to transmit a predefined wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive to allow visual inspection of the fluid within the container when the container is manipulated in a human hand to bring the container to a first temperature by manipulation of the container in a human hand, and the thermochromic material configured to block the wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive when the container is not at the first temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the wall is formed with the thermochromic material. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the thermochromic material is applied as a film or ink onto the wall of the container. 
     
     
         19 . A method of working with a fluid within a container in a laboratory, the fluid sensitive to a wavelength of light, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) controlling a temperature of the container to bring the container to a first temperature at which a thermochromic material of the container is clear;   (b) visually inspecting the fluid and/or an amount of fluid within the container while the container is controlled to be at the first temperature; and   (c) controlling a temperature of the container to bring the container to a second temperature at which the thermochromic material of the container is opaque to the wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the first temperature is the temperature of human skin, and said step (a) comprises controlling the temperature to be the first temperature by manipulating the container in a human hand. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein said step (c) comprises controlling the temperature to be the second temperature by not touching the container with the human hand. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the first temperature is room temperature and said step (a) comprises controlling the temperature to be the first temperature by working with the container at room temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein said step (c) comprises controlling the temperature to be the second temperature by cooling the container to a temperature below room temperature.